ELTHAM COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1926, Page 13

ELTHAM COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ROAD TROUBLES AFTER STORMS. THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. The monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council was held on Saturday, when there were present: Crs. C. E. McGuinness (in the chair), R. J. Knuckey, A. MeWilliam, A. V. Messana, M. W. Barker, A. L. Campbell, W. E. Carter and E. J. Gifford. Cr. McGuinness was elected chairman during the -absence of Mr. C. J. Belcher. The engineer (Mr. F. Muggeridge) reported as follows: South Riding.—The repairs to the Rotokare Road bridge have been completed, Mr. Toomey having made a splendid job. Two wooden culverts were replaced by concrete pipes on the Campbell Road. It is proposed to renew all old culverts on this road before any metalling is commenced. Metal patching was done on the Skeet and Mangawhero Roads. Water-tables and culverts were attended to on the Fraser and Mountain Roads.

Mangatoki Riding.—The crushing on the Eltham Road has been completed, the whole of the 700 yards being used for building up the edges and metalling side tracks. As weather permits, the grouting is being attended to. The bitumen surface on Rogers Hill has been widened out to 18 feet and the side tracks re-metalled, rolled and blinded. Filling fences were repaired on the Hastings Road, and side tracks were patched on the Lower Hunter Road. Surface‘patching will be attended to on all bituminous roads in the riding from now on as weather permits. Spoil from the culvert has been cleared and willows planted at Mr. Baker’s boundary on the Upper Duthie Road. Plans have been prepared for the retaining wall on the Upper Stuart Road, and work will be put in hand immediately. Omona Riding.—During the month the wet weather experienced caused considerable damage to all roads in the riding. The road just beyond No. 2 filling at Matamateaonga has dropped two feet for about a chain. This will necessitate widening the road for about four chains and lengthening the culverts. A few large over slips and under slips came down on the Omoana West ridge, but traffic was not held up. There are numerous . slips on the road between Omoana and Moeroa. The largest of these, between 300 and 400 cubic yards, came down on the chasm bridge at Takau, breaking it in halves. New stringers were procured immediately and the bridge replaced. All the old bridge was salvaged and parts of the stringers were used for under struting the structure. The road beyond Moeroa is reported to be in a very bad state. After the meeting an inspection will be made of the whole ridirg and an estimate of the extent of the damage done will be made out with a view of procuring assistance from the Public Works Department. The contractor has shifted out to Takau to commence his shell rock contract. Kaponga Riding.-—Metal patching was attended to on the Palmer and Neill Roads. Water-tables and culverts were cleaned out on the Manaia and Eltham Roads. Bitumen patching is being attended to on the Eltham Road. Eltham Riding.-—An inspection was made of the Aorere Road, and it was found that to make a proper job it would be necessary to put in two threefeet concrete culverts and fillings, at an estimated cost of £4O. Metal patching was attended to on the Hu and Rawhitiroa Roads. A few large slips were cleared off the Mangimingi ridge. General maintenance work-was done on the Sangster Road. Weather permitting a start will be made next week to widen out the bitumen surface on the Mountain Road. General.—The Acme crushing plant has been brought in from the Eltham Road and minor repairs are being attended to before setting in on Templar Street. The petrol tank ordered is to hand and has bee» erected. The dual plant has been thoroughly tested, and works quite satisfactorily. Both tanks have been filled and will be used from now on. Trouble was experienced with the engine on the tar sprayer. After consulting the acting-chairman, it was decided to procure another engine and a second-hand 1J h.p. engine was procured and fitted. Repairs were effected to the Leyland and White lorries. The season’s supply of bitumen has come to hand, and is in very good order. The county ranger, Mr. H. E. Williams, reported that during the month 29 head of stock were released, one conviction with costs was obtained in the Court against a person keeping an ua registered dog, and four notices to have drains cleared on the low side of tne road were issued.

The Main Highways Board wrote Ji connection with sub-section 1 of section 2 of the Main Highways Amendment Act, which gives the board authority to advance to local authorities such sums as the board may from time to time determine, but the total amount advanced for the time being outstanding shall not exceed £50,000 at any one time. The board had been advised that before local authorities could take advantage of this clause it was necessary to obtain authority under the Local Bodies Loans Act, either by poll of the ratepayers or by consent, as might be required for the raising of a loan, with sufficient security to provide for payment of interest and sinking fund, which woifld redeem the loan within ten years. The board had not laid down any set rule or principle for the purpose of dealing with applications under this provision, but proposed considering each application on its merits.